Gorgonia mariae

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Gorgonia mariae, commonly known as the wide-mesh sea fan, is a

species of sea fan, a sessile colonial soft coral in the family Gorgoniidae. Gorgonia mariae
It occurs in the tropical western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea at
depths down to about 50 m (160 ft).

Contents
1 Description
2 Distribution
3 Biology
4 References Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Cnidaria
Description
Class: Anthozoa
G. mariae is the smallest sea fan in the Caribbean, growing to a height of Subclass: Octocorallia
about 30 cm (12 in). The much branched structure is mostly two
dimensional, and as it enlarges, the branches become cross-connected to Order: Alcyonacea
form a net. The branches are only slightly compressed and the side Suborder: Holaxonia
branches are pinnately divided. The colour varies, most specimens are
whitish and others are yellow, and there is often some violet colour near Family: Gorgoniidae
the base. Two other growth forms exist in the Caribbean; one has many Genus: Gorgonia
short, free branches on one or both faces of the net; the other, which is
usually bright yellow, has the lower part of the colony anastomising and Species: G. mariae
net-like, while the upper and outer parts have free branches.[2] The Binomial name
supporting axial rod in the main stem and branches is formed of
gorgonin, calcified to some extent, a flexible and almost unbreakable Gorgonia mariae
material. This enables the gorgonian to brace itself and sway with the Bayer, 1961 [1]

current so that the polyps can expand to feed.[3]

Distribution
The species is native to the tropical western Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea.[4] It is found anchored to the
seabed in moderately deep water, ranging in depth from about 5 to 47 m (20 to 150 ft).[2]

Biology
In G. mariae, the gametes are shed into the coelenteron or body cavity of each polyp and pass through the
mouth into the open sea where fertilisation takes place. The fertilised egg develops into a planula larva which is
planktonic. The tentacles, septa and pharynx begin to develop before the larva settles on its aboral (non-mouth)
end and metamorphosises into a juvenile sea fan.[4]

In 1995 a disease affected gorgonians in the Caribbean, with Gorgonia flabellum and Gorgonia ventalina being
particularly affected. It was established that a terrestrial Aspergillus, a pathogenic fungus, was responsible, and
that G. mariae was also susceptible.[5] The symptoms included tissue die back, abnormal tufts of growth, and
some purpling of affected areas. The disease varied in severity from mild to severe, with full recovery taking
place on some occasions and mass deaths on others. Aspergillosis sydowii, a common species found in soil, had
not previously been known to affect marine invertebrates.[5]
References
1. van Ofwegen, Leen (2015). "Gorgonia mariae Bayer, 1961" (http://www.marinespecies.org/aphia.php?p
=taxdetails&id=290032). World Register of Marine Species. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
2. Colin, Patrick L. (1978). Marine Invertebrates and Plants of the Living Reef. T.F.H. Publications. p. 175.
ISBN 978-0-86622-875-6.
3. Ruppert, Edward E.; Fox, Richard, S.; Barnes, Robert D. (2004). Invertebrate Zoology, 7th edition.
Cengage Learning. pp. 145146. ISBN 978-81-315-0104-7.
4. "Gorgonia mariae Bayer, 1961" (http://www.sealifebase.org/summary/Gorgonia-mariae.html).
SeaLifeBase. Retrieved 18 June 2017.
5. Woodley, Cheryl M.; Downs, Craig A.; Bruckner, Andrew W.; Porter, James W.; Galloway, Sylvia B.
(2016). Diseases of Coral (https://books.google.com/books?id=U8gbCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA236). John
Wiley & Sons. p. 236. ISBN 978-0-8138-2411-6.

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gorgonia_mariae&oldid=792422643"

Categories: Gorgoniidae Animals described in 1961

This page was last edited on 26 July 2017, at 12:39.

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